Coreopsis plant named ‘Sunbeam’

ABSTRACT

The new and distinct  Coreopsis verticillata  plant named ‘Sunbeam’ with narrow foliage, yellow flowers having rounded apices and long flowering for cut flower, or landscaping in mass or as a specimen plant.

Botanical designation: Coreopsis verticillata.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Sunbeam’.

BACKGROUND OF THE PLANT

The present invention relates to the new and distinct Threadleaf Coreopsis herein also referred to as Coreopsis verticillata ‘Sunbeam’, by the cultivar name, ‘Sunbeam’, or as the Plant. ‘Sunbeam’ was discovered by Ronald L. Walters in the summer of 2002 as an uninduced whole plant mutation of Coreopsis ‘Moonbeam’ (not patented) in the fields of a wholesale perennial grower in Zeeland, Mich., USA. It was then isolated and compared in subsequent years to other coreopsis and found to be different from all cultivars known to the discoverer.

Asexual propagation at the same nursery in Zeeland, Mich. USA by cuttings has shown ‘Sunbeam’ to be stable and reproduce true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE PLANT

The Plant has not been observed in all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary slightly with changes in environments such as light intensity, fertility, water availability, etc. without, however any variation in genotype.

‘Sunbeam’ is distinct from all known cultivars in the following traits:

-   -   1. Narrow foliage with moderate height.     -   2. Petite flowers held above the foliage with deep yellow ray         petals.     -   3. Long flowering period.

NEAREST COMPARISON

Plants of ‘Sunbeam’ are shorter in habit than ‘Golden Showers’ (not patented) and taller than ‘Zagreb’ (not patented). Flowers of ‘Sunbeam’ are smaller, with entire margins on ray petals and the flowers are above the foliage compared to ‘Créme Brutée’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,096 which hare larger flowers held at the foliage level and incised ray petal apices. The ray petal color of ‘Sunbeam’ is slightly darker yellow than ‘Crméme Brulée’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The color photographs illustrate the overall characteristics of the Plant. The colors are as true as reasonably possible given the technology available. The color values may vary slightly depending on light intensity and quality.

FIG. 1 shows the habit of the Plant in flower in mid summer.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up of the flower.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following description is based on a two-year old plant growing in a full-sun trial garden in Zeeland, Mich., USA. For the growing season up to the time of description the daytime temperatures range between 12-30° C., and night temperatures range between 6-19° C. Except for ordinary dictionary color usage, color references are according to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 edition.

-   Parentage: Non-induced mutation of ‘Moonbeam’ (not patented). -   Asexual propagation: Cuttings, about 10 to 14 days to initiate     roots; time to finish as #1 field grown, 9 months; -   Plant habit: Freely basally and axillarily branched, rounded,     herbaceous perennial mound; 50 to 60 cm wide, 50 to 55 cm tall; -   Leaves: Opposite, entire, glabrous, acute apex; base attenuate;     apetiolus; up to 3 cm long and 2 mm wide: RHS 135A on top and RHS     139A on lower surfaces; -   Veins: Not obvious; -   Flower: Composite consisting of ray and disc florets; on terminal     branches; 3.5 cm diameter, 1.0 cm tall from outer set of involucral     bracts to top of disc florets; -   Sepals: -   Phyllary: In two distinct whorls, outer whorl consisting of about     10, about 2 mm long, acute apex, narrowly deltoid, truncate base,     glabrous, between RHS 144A and RHS 144B; inner whorl tight against     ray petals, usually 8 in number, 5 mm long and 2 mm wide, acute apex     and truncate base, closer to RHS 9B at apex and RHS 144A at base; -   Fragrance: Not detected; -   Flowering period: Early summer through early autumn; producing over     40 flowers per stem and over 200 flowers per plant; -   Flower longevity: 5 to 8 days; -   Flower buds: One to two days before showing ray petal color     spherical with slightly flattened top, 4.0 mm wide and 4.0 mm     diameter; near RHS 144B; -   Peduncle; Glaucous, thin wiry, strong, many branched; 5.0 mm wide at     base; RHS 147B; -   Pedicel: Glaucous, thin, wiry, strong; less than 1 mm in diameter, 4     to 5 cm long, RHS 147B. -   Ray florets: Usually 8 per flower; oblong elongate, apex rounded,     margin entire; base narrowly cuneate; opening to form 180° angle;     parallel veined; glabrous on both surfaces, 1.7 to 2.0 cm long and 6     to 7 mm wide; RHS 9A on both surfaces; corolla tube about 2.0 mm     long; containing only gynoecium with style 2 to 3 mm long and split     stigma; both style and stigma color closest to RHS 9A; -   Disc florets: 30 to 60 per head; consisting of tepals, staminal tube     and pistil; -   Tepals: Five; 5 mm long and 1 mm wide, fused in the basal 4 mm,     acute apex, color between RHS 151B and RHS 151A; -   Staminal tube: Made up of five fused stamens, 2 to 3 mm long, RHS     174A; -   Anther: About 1 mm long, closest to RHS 187A; -   Pollen: Fine, round, closest to RHS 21C; -   Style: About 4.5 mm long; RHS 160B; -   Stigma: Split in half and curling back as it matures; RHS 160C; -   Seed: Rarely observed. -   ‘Sunbeam’ is tolerant of winter temperatures as low as −20° C. and     summer temperatures of 40° C. Tolerant of dry summer conditions but     does best with ample moisture; Not known to be tolerant of diseases     and pest that are common to other Coreopsis cultivars. 

1. The new and distinct cultivar of Coreopsis plant named ‘Sunbeam’ as described and illustrated, with yellow un-fringed petals, fine thread-like foliage and long flowering period. 